Reenforcement for concrete structures



Sept. 11, 1928; 1,684,195

R. c. OLMSTED REENFORCEMENT FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed NOV. 23, 1926 INVENTOR liusxu (T 0015750 42 BY Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

U lhll-TE D 55.

nnssnnr, QOLMS'IED, o1 nnnson new JERSEY.

REIEllQIFOBCEMENT FOB CONCRETE STRUCTURES, I

Application filed November 23, 1926.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in rcen'torcing mats for concrete structures, and while the invention herein illustrated is shown and described as used in the construction of concrete roadways,

"it is to be unde stood that it is capable of use in other connections as well, such as a reentorcenient for concrete walls, curbings, toun dations or any type of concrete construction which employs intersecting elements in the reent'orcing structure thereof.

One of the most effective forms of reentorcing structure for concrete roadways consists of two series of intersecting elements, preterably, although not necessarily in the term of bars. The two series of intersecting reentorcing elements are spacedwith respect to each other, thus forming a lower series and anupper series of intersecting elements when 7 the reentorcing structure is in position in the roadway.

In the operative position 01": this type otreenforcing structure, the upper and lower series of intersecting reent'orcing elements are retained'in spaced relation to each other by means of spacing elements or members, these spacing elements or members being preterably atached to the lower andupper series of intersecting reentorcing elements at cer tain orall of their points of intersection, and generally forming together with other suitable devices, me ans for securing the intersecting reentoroing elements together to form a reenforcing structure commonly known as a mat.

In other types of roadway construction, a single series ot intersecting reentorcing elements is employed and said single series of reenforcing elements is supported in spaced relation with respectto the sub-grade of the roadway construction by specially constructed devices known as chairs which rest upon the sub-grade, theseries of reentorcing ele ments being supported thereby, preferably at their pointsot intersection.

It-is' one of the objects of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved typeot spacing element; capable of use both to secure a lower andupper series of intersecting reent'orcing elements, together in the formot a reentorcing mat, and as a so-called chair for supporting a single series of intersecting reen'forcing elements in spaced relation to the sub-grac c in the building of a concrete road;- way when this type of reen torcement 1s em ploy ed;

Serial No. 150,135.

Spacing elements of the general typc men t oncd have been heretottore employed, but so tar as I am aware, they have been attached tothe several intersecting elements of. the reenlorcing mat by a specially constructed dev ce known as a bar-ty, and are not capable ot sccurement in position by ordinary means, such, for examplaas tying by wire, and it is a further object of theinvntion to provide a new and improved spacing element whiclnin addition to being capable of use with these specially constructed bar-tys, readily lends itself to securenient to the intersecting reen} torcing elements by tyingwith ordinary ty ing wire, thus eliminating. wheredeSired; the

use of specially constructed devicessuch as parallcly extending reentorcing elements in the opposite series positioned interiorly of the mat, and ice versa.

So far as I am aware, no spacing element has been devisedwith which both these types of reentorcing mats maybe formed, and it" is a further objectof my invention to provide a spacing element, the use otwhich will permit of the formation and construction of reentorcing mats of either of the aforementioned y s- It is a still turther object of my invention to provide a spacing element which may be, more cheaply manufactured than spacing elements now employed andwith which Iain. familiar, thus reducing materially the cost of reenter-cement mats or structures tor concrete roadway construction. 7 i

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the nature ofthe inven tion is more clearly understood, reference is had to the acconipanyin drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred forms of myinven tion, and in which, Figure 1 is a detailpc away to a reento i. a

cw broken nine 11 the means of ordinary tying wire.

As will be noted by reference to the accompanyin drawings, a spacing element constructec in accordance with the present invention is preferably formed from. a relatively narrow strip of material and comprises a body portion 10, upon each end of which a loop is formed, these loops being designated by the reference numeral. 12. The loops 12, are preferably formed by bending the ends of the body portion 10, as at 14, to provide right angularly disposed ex- 7 tensions 16 which, in turn, bent as at 18 to provide right angular end portions 20. While in the present illustration of the invention, the loops 12 are shown as of right angular formation, it may, in some instances be desirable to form them in other shapes, and I do not wish to be limited to the form of loops shown, but wish it understood that loops of any formation fall within the scope of my invention.

The wall of each of the loops formed by the extension16 is out out as at 22, and the cut-out portion also preferably extends a short distance into the body portion and the end portions 20, as designated at 24 and 26, respectively.

As heretofore stated, one of the most effective forms of reenforcing mat or structure for concrete roadways consists of an upper and lower series of intersecting elements ar ranged in spaced relation to each other, and a spacing element constructed in accordance with the present invention particularly lends itself to reenforcing mats or structures of this character.

ings, the lower series of intersecting elements are shown in the form of steel bars 530 and 31, the upper series being preferably of a. similar nature, and designated by the reference numerals 40 and 41. While in the present instance these reenforcing elements are shown as steel bars, it is to be understood that the invention'is not limited to use with this type of reenforcing element alone, but may by slight modification be readily adapted to use with all types of reenforcing elements.

In constructing this type of reenforcing mat or structure, it will be noted that the several spacing elements are arranged entirely within the confines of the mat, and are supported upon the lower or outer reenforces ing elements 31 of the lower series B. This outer or lower reenforcing element is received in the cut-out portion 22 of the lower bar receiving loop of each of the spacing elements with which it engages, the side walls of the cut-out portions servin to position the reenforcing element 31 and aid, with other means to be hereinafter referred to, to retain said reenforcing element against accidental displacement.

The inner reenforcing element 30 of the lower series is received in the lower loop of each of the spacing elements which it engages, and intersects the several spacing elements 31 at this point. After the intersecting elements have been thus arranged, a bar-ty 35 of any suitable type is engaged with reenforcing e ement-s 30 and 31 to securely hold them with respect to each other and lower end of the spacing elements. i

In the assembly thus far carried out, it will be noted that the spacing elements occupy a vertical position and are supported upon the outer or lower reenforcing element of the lower series B.

The outer or upper reenforcing element 40 of the upper series A, it will be noted, occupies a position in the cut-out portion 22 of the upper reenforcing element receiving loop of i the spacing elements, said reenforcing element 40 resting thereon and being supported thereby. The inner or lower reenforcing eleno ment 41 of the upper series A is received in the upper reenforcing element receiving loop and is adapted to be suspended from the reenforcing element 40 in the finished reenforcing mat. Any suitable means may be em- 1 5 ployed for suspending the reenforcing elements 41 from the reenforcing elements 40- r and I therefore do not wish to be limited to I f the meansshown in the accompanying drawings which constitutes a conventional type of I20 bar-ty such as 42.

It will be noted that in the form of reenforcing mat thus far described, each upper or outer reenforcing element of the upper series A of the reenforcing elements is parallel with its respective lower or outer reenforcing element of the lower series B of reenforcing elements, and that the inner reenforcing elements of each series also occupy I positions in parallelism. In some instances, mo

however, it is desirable tt'O fonm 1a reenforcing mat wherein the outer or upper reenforcing elements of the upper series A occupy positions in parallelism with theirrespective in ner reenforcing element the lower series B of reenforcing elements with the inner reenforcing element of the upper series A parallel with its respective outer reenforcing element in the lower series B.

In Figure 5 the drawings, I have illustrated a spacing element which readily adapts itself to the formation of a reenforcing mat of this last mentioned type, and which comprises a body portion having reenforcing element receiving loops 51 at its opposite ends, said loops being cutout to ,pro-, vide reenforcing element receiving openings 52. In order to form a reenforcing mat of the last above mentioned type, however, ity is necessary that the reenforcing element rev asl es 1 e positioned aag y With respect to each other, and to obtain this angular relative position of the reenforcing element receiving loops, the body portion of the spacing element is twisted on its longitudinal axis as designated at 55, the desired angular position of the reenforcing element receiving loops being determined by the amount of twist given to the body portion of the spacing element.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, I have shown the intersecting reenforcing elements secured together and to the spacing element by means of ordinary tying wire in lieu of bar tys, said tying lwire being designated by the reference numeral 54. This tying wire is passed around the intersecting reenforcing elements and the loop of the spacing element with which they are associated preferably in the form of a plurality of loops 55, and this manner of forming a. unitary structure has been found by me to be very effective and some what cheaper than where bar-tys are employed.

When the spacing element is employed as a chair, that is to support a single series of intersecting reenforcing elements in spaced relation to the sub-grade of the roadway being formed, the lower reenforcing element receiving loop serves as a foot upon which the spacing element rests upon the sub-grade, the reenforcing elements being secured to the upper end of the spacing elements as heretofore described.

While I have illustrated the invention in what may be termed its preferred forms, I wish it understood that it may be executed in various other forms not herein illustrated but clearly within its scope, and I, therefore, wish it understood that all forms which fall within the purview of the appended claims are covered herein.

Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. A spacer element for concrete reenforcing elements, said spacer element comprising a relatively narrow strip of material consti tuting :a body portion, reenforcing element receiving loops formed on the ends of said body portion, and anoutwardly disposedreenforcing lelement receiving opening forn'ied in each of said loops, and adapted to receive an outer reenforcing elementtherein at .an angle to :a reenforcing element carried in the reenfoncing element receiving loop.

. 2. A. reenforcing mat for concrete. struc: tures comprising two series of reenforcing elements, the" reenforcing elements in each series being arranged in intersecting relation, and means for securing said two series of intersect-ing reenforcing elements, together in spaced relation, said means comprising a plurality ofspacing elements, each comprising a body portion, a notched loop formed at each end of thebody portion, each of said loops being adapted to receive an inner reenforcing element and the notch of each loop being adapted to receive an outer intersecting reenforcing element, and means for securing the intersecting reenforcing elements and the spacers together to provide a unitary structure.

3. A reenforcing mat for concrete road structures comprising a lower series of reenforcing elements arranged in intersecting relation, an upper series of reenforcing elements arranged in intersecting relation, each of said series including an inner and outer reenforcing element and means for securing said series of intersecting reenforcing elements together in spaced relation, said means comprising a spacer having end loops for the reception of the inner reenforcing elements in its respective series, and formed with a notch for the reception of the outer intersecting reenforcing element in its respective series, and means for securing said intersecting reenforcing elements and said spacer together to provide a unitary structure.

4. A spacer element for concrete reenforcements, said spacer element comprising a body member and a reenforcing element receiving loop at each end of said body member, an inner reenforcing element positioned within each of said loops, said loops each having an outwardly disposed cut-out portion for the reception of a reenforcing element arranged in intersecting relation with the reenforcing elements positioned within the loops.-

5. A reenforcing mat for concrete structures, said mat comprising a lower series of intersecting reenforcing elements, a plurality of spacer elements secured to the lower series of reenforcing elements at the points of intersection of the reenforcing elements thereof,

an upper seriesof intersecting reenforcing elements, the outer reenforcing elements of the upper series of reenforcing elements resting upon the upper ends of their respective spacer elements, and means for securing said outer reenforcin g elements of the upper series of reenforcing elements to their respective spacer elements, said securing means serving to suspendxthe inner reenforcing elements from the outer reenforcing element of said upper series of said reenforcing element.

6. A concrete reenforcing structure comprising a spacer element, a reenforcing element receiving loop provided at one end thereof, an outwardly disposed notch formed in said loop, an outer reenforcing element mounted in said notch, an inner reenforcingelement positioned in said loop, and means for securing said outer reenforcing element in said notch, and suspending the inner reenforcing element from said outer reenforcing element.

7. A concrete reenforcing structure comprising a spacer element, a reenforcing element receiving loop provided at one end thereof, an outwardly disposed notch formed in said loop, an outer reenforcing element mounted in said notch, an inner reenforcing element positioned in said loop, and means for securing the outer reenforcing element in said notch and securing the inner reenforcing elementin said loop.

8. A concrete reenforcing structure comprising an upper series of intersecting reen forcing elements, a lowerseriesofintersecting reenforcing elements, and a plurality of spac ing elements for maintaining said upper and lower series of reenforcing elements in spaced relation, said spacing elements each comprising an elongated body portion having at each end a loop for the reception of the inner reenforcing element ofits respective series, and an outwardly disposed notch providing aseat for the outer reenforcing element of its 7 res ective series.

'igned at New York City, N. in, this 22nd 40 day of November, 1926.

RUSSELL o. ()LMSTED. 

